Stephen King declared, “Books are a uniquely portable form of magic,” and we at ONE Intervention couldn’t agree more! That’s why we’ve curated a list of 5 Magical Kid-friendly Libraries in Singapore for an enchanting afternoon of reading with your little ones.
The libraries listed here boast extensive collections of books tailored specifically for your children. They’ve got sci-fi, fantasy, history and every other genre that your little bookworm could ever want. Plus, most of these libraries also feature workshops and storytelling sessions to better enrich your children’s reading experience!
From the famous Central Public Library to the humble Bishan Public Library, there’s something for everyone on this list. Ready to be amazed? Well, read on now to find out more!
Central Public Library
No list of kid-friendly libraries in Singapore is complete without featuring the one and only Central Public Library.
This library’s main attraction is their awesome biodiversity-themed space. Created in partnership with Resort World Sentosa, the Central Public Library brags three different zones for varying levels of readers. Each zone features interactive and immersive experiences.
There’s the Coral Zone for 0 – 3 years old, featuring early literacy resources to foster a love of reading in our kids’ hearts. Best to start young, right? The Intertidal Zone is designed for their slightly older siblings, catering to children aged 4 – 6 years old. And the Sea Jelly Zone is for kids aged 7 and up!
Besides the amazing sea theme (it’s sure to delight your little ones!), there’s plenty more that the Central Public Library offers. They’ve got exciting monthly programmes such as marine and aquarist talks, which can let your kids learn more about the sea.
Check out their website to see what they offer this month!
Details:
🔗 Central Public Library – Singapore
📍 Basement 1, Central Public Library, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064
🕜 10am – 9pm daily
Punggol Regional Library
Next up, we’ve got the Punggol Regional Library. It’s the largest library on our little red dot, and makes our list of kid-friendly libraries in Singapore because a whole 2 of the 5 levels it has is dedicated to children!
When visiting this library, make sure to check out their Tinkertots area. Your little explorers are sure to delight in the tinkering challenges held there. And for the more curious ones, the space has a plethora of educational toys that they can choose and play with!
Psst! Speaking of toys, Punggol Regional Library also features a toy library. A toy library. Yep, that’s right – an entire library just for toys. They also feature educational aids, and even puppet costumes. If your kids think libraries are stuffy and boring, be sure to bring them there!
The library also has several calm pods for our kids with special needs, should they get overstimulated. (Be sure to check out this article on how slime can help children with sensory overstimulation, or this article on how to make your home a sensory-friendly haven!)
Details:
🔗 Punggol Regional Library – Singapore
📍 #01-12, One Punggol, 1 Punggol Drive, Singapore 828629
🕐 10am – 9pm daily
library@harbourfront
Yeah, this library is a little more ulu than most. But, it’s got the perk of being located within one of the largest, busiest, most popular shopping malls in Singapore. For parents with slightly more reluctant readers, the perfect bribe – ahem, bargain – with your kids would be to take them on a trip to VivoCity either before or after the trip to the library.
Besides, the library itself has plenty of fun, exciting features as well.
library@harbourfront makes our exclusive list of kid-friendly libraries in Singapore because of its creative use of Generative AI in their Stories Come Alive Room. Kids will absolutely love being able to pick and choose their own adventure. Thanks to cutting-edge technology, every story told will be unique to themselves!
Be sure to visit their Tinkertruck as well! That’s the first ever makerspace for kids aged 3 – 9 years old. It features STEAM worksheets that you can pick out to further enrich your childrens’ learning.
Details:
🔗 library@harbourfront – Singapore
📍 VivoCity, #03-05, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
🕜 11am – 9pm ; Extended Hours 9am – 11am (Staff commences services at 11am)
Choa Chu Kang Public Library
Of course, we wouldn’t dream of passing up Choa Chu Kang Public Library on our list of kid-friendly libraries in Singapore.
This unique library is the first ever public library to have a hydroponics showcase. It’s built around the concept of sustainability, and even features an indoor garden. This soothing green space is sure to lend a calming atmosphere to your family’s reading.
Looking for a learning trail on the rich history of the library? Well, we have great news for you: There are QR codes scattered all around the library for a more immersive learning experience! They use augmented reality (AR) to make the learning more fun and interactive.
Why not make a game of it with your kids? See who can spot and scan the most number of QR codes!
Also, don’t leave the library without visiting their Story Circle at least once! The space features several brightly coloured structures meant to resemble vegetables growing out of their shelves. Its highlight is a structure of a giant tree surrounded by comfortable stools, for your kids to enjoy the simple pleasure of listening to a good story.
Details:
🔗 Choa Chu Kang Public Library
📍21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, #04-01/02 and #05-06, Singapore 689812
🕜 11am – 9pm
Bishan Public Library
And last, but by no means least, on our list of kid-friendly libraries in Singapore: The humble Bishan Public Library!
This library is best known for its colourful stained glass windows. Those are actually reading pods! The entire library is structured like a tree house, with the pods protruding from the side of the building. They’re the perfect spaces for quiet reflection if your little ones need a bit of down time.
Bishan Public Library has a whole array of events that take place monthly, including storytelling sessions for your kids! For the elderly in your family, the library even features a popular Learning IT for Seniors Club (LITS). Check out their website for more details!
The library also has a cafe on the first floor, in case your kids get hungry after a whole day of reading! Treat them to the warm, flaky pastries baked and sold daily. Mmm, delicious!
But What’s So Great About Reading?
Maybe you’re wondering why you should even bother taking your kids to the libraries listed? It’d be such a hassle finding time to do it, and your children don’t even like reading. Besides, how important is reading, anyway?
Turns out, it’s pretty important.
Scientists have done extensive research on the benefits of reading. It improves all aspects of your child’s development, from their mental to emotional well-being. We at ONE Intervention have summarised three main benefits for you, though they’re by no means an exhaustive list.
Improved Vocabulary And Communication
Of course, reading exposes your child to new words and different forms of syntax. This enables them to learn more about their language. Stories are a great way for your little ones to enrich their vocabulary, because they provide an excellent model of how language is used in casual conversation, in dialogue, and in narration.
This empowers your child to become a more effective communicator. Doubtless, that’s a tool that will serve them well beyond their classroom years.
And best of all? It’s fun! Reading packages all these lessons into fascinating stories that can keep your kids hooked and wanting for more.
Increased Imagination
Stories are some of the most creative mediums out there. They introduce worlds where mermaids, fairies and dragons are real. Stormy seas with pirates hunting for gold. Fairytales where the princesses get their fantastic happily ever after!
All of these serve as fuel for your little ones’ imagination. This allows them to think out of the box, which is an important skill in problem-solving.
Plus, children learn how to adapt to solutions outside of their reality through stories. Books give them perspective of scenarios and situations that they may not encounter in real life, then tell the story of how the hero overcomes these impossible challenges.
This teaches kids how to apply fictional lessons to real life, which builds up their imagination and resilience!
More Self-Awareness And Confidence
Remember your favourite book character when you were a kid? How you absolutely idolised them and thought that they were the best ever character to exist?
Unconsciously, kids look for themselves in the stories that they read. They might see parts of themselves in the hero of the book. And when that same hero grows as a character and becomes braver, smarter, stronger – that inspires your little one to grow as well.
This encourages their self-esteem, because they know that they’re becoming more like someone they admire. And the very recognition of themselves in the character they admire strengthens their skill of self-awareness. Cool, isn’t it?
We at ONE Intervention definitely understand the importance of reading, which is why we make it a point to incorporate storytelling into our kids’ lessons. Often, our students can be seen enjoying a good story from a colourful picture book narrated by our patient teachers.
But, sometimes, some of our little bookworms may want even more reading material.
So, what are you waiting for? Take your kids out for a magical afternoon to this list of kid-friendly libraries in Singapore today! And if you’ve any other libraries that you feel are worth a shoutout on this list? Well, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a comment below! 💬👇